January 2026 Grocery Shopping

 Today was our first real grocery shopping trip. Yes, we bought all the hams on January 6. The bill was $93.72 but there was pasta shells for Addie, several other things besides food so the total food portion of the bill was $68.72. That was two bottles of avocado oil and 7 hams. The avocado oil came to about $13 so for the hams, it was $55.72 or, about $8 per ham.

So, I'm counting that grocery visit as $68.72.

My car needed gas. I was going to run down to Walmart and get it but Vince wanted to get a rotisserie chicken and I had gift cards from Panera that expire at the end of January so we went to town.

Here's what we bought:

• 2 rotisserie chickens
• 20 pound bag of Russet potatoes
• Bananas
• 2 - 6 pound bags of Sweet Italian red onions
• 2 pounds Medjool dates
• 1-1/2 pounds Flavor Bomb Cherry tomatoes
• 2 bags of avocados - 5 per bag
• 3 pound bag of limes
• 1 gallon apple cider
• 2 pounds strawberries
• 2 pound bag of brussels sprouts
• 20 pound bag of basmatti rice
• Palmetto pimento & cheese
• 2 pounds feta cheese
• Tandoori style Naan bites
• 2 dozen cage free eggs
• 1 pound Stilton white cheese wedge with cranberries
• 1.75 Parmesan cheese wedge
• 2 - 34 oz. bottles of avocado oil
• 40 oz. bag of Starbucks coffee
• 2 pounds walnuts (shelled)
• Jamie Oliver Super Grains (to try)
• Members' Mark Green Goddess Dressing Mix

The total was $263.70.

As far as an explanation, though I know this isn't needed:

Rotisserie Chickens - I will be gone tomorrow so Vince will eat part of one. By the time I get home, I'll be hungry (and will be too) so I'll probably stir up some chicken salad with a bit of it, have that with cheese and the Naan Bread bites - these are more like crackers. We will either make chicken and spaghetti or gumbo or something else with the other chicken. Whatever we make, it will be something we get several meals from.

Red Onions - Sometime over the next few days I will make and can pickled red onions. It's time to start thinking about all the things I need to can to replenish the supplies so that when it's time to can food from the garden, I'm not having to can other things that could have already been canned.

Avocado Oil - At Aldi, this is $6.50 for 17 ounces. At Sam's, it's $11.98 for 34 ounces. Not a lot of difference in price so wherever we are, I'll pick it up if I'm getting low. I use a lot of avocado oil - salad dressings, making mayo, and baking.

Walnuts - We each try to eat a handful of walnuts every day. I don't really love them but I hear they're good for you.

Coffee - Vince drinks the coffee and that's the brand he likes. 

Jamie Oliver Super Greens - I've never tried those but it looks interesting and looks like something we would like.

Member's Mark Green Goddess Seasoning - My favorite salad at Panera has Green Goddess Dressing so I figured for $4.48, I would try the dressing mix.

That's it. The total bill was $263.70. We probably will not go back to Sam's for at least a month - my guess is about mid-March. I will buy milk, fruit, eggs and fresh veggies at Aldi or the Farmers' Market or wherever I can find eggs in the neighborhood but there shouldn't be any big shopping til we go back to Sam's.